Auxiliary melting device



April 28, 1925.

G. E. LEE

AUXILIARY MELTING DEVICE s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1922 A 2s, 192s.

G. E. LEE

AUXILIARY QMELTING DEVICE Filed July 12. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April '28, 1925. K

G. E. LEE

AUXILIARY MELTING DEVICE Filed'July 12, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v 33% 061x7 0 fl 7 Y fi/m gx amp April 28, 1925. 1,535,232

G. E. LEE .7

AUXILIARY NELTING DEVICE Filed July 12. 1922 5 Shets-Sheet 4 gal M712 1$ 4 cc ib G. E. LEE

AUXIIJIARY MELTING DEVICB April 28, 1925.

Filed July 12. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fatented Apr. 28, 1925. r 9

nn-mice.

GEORGE or: QLEMEEANDQ qmpsessle re m site enq wn W ese 4, F1-.;:CI1E13I,ELAND 9mm A: seescliez rem 013191 210 AUXILlRYfigjll/IEL'EING'; environ.

i ucauon mea 1Jiu1yc 12, -1 922. -11. Serial NOM574j70.

T0 aZZ whom: it may concern 1 1 Be it knownithet LGEQRGE E; LEE, e citizen of 5 the United States, residing; :at Cleve- 1 land; 1 in the county; f GlLywh(i)g2h =&BCl2S. tffi-te 0t ()hio,- hzwe inventedfa- ;.ceiztaiii:-.-n.ewi 3 9d 1 use-till Improvement 1 in tAuX iliairynihilieltiuig Devices, 1 01 1. which thee fol-lmvingleis a'z zfulh lclear ,-2u1d exact description.

1 The present inventionziielatestdwhatmay he tern1ed an auxiliarysmelting clevice-afor delivering-inelted materiaL-to dazesermeirwor container.

S eGifiG-ully, the iiliieintlmh-21Shlllll1dli$- closed is p articiulerlyiadapteduiioiu use es; en auxiliary 1 molten 1 -n1ete]:i.:feedii1g udevicezu-fcr use i11 connecticn with: tllQziHiGltillQlEqlilOt201' crucible of. such. wrenachine. as a :line, thype casting 111achine Or typepasting;machine ior lead and rulecasting .111%tCl1i116',. 1015 a: machine cit si111ilai- ;cherecter,1but itisheuld beiuhderstood 1 that the ;p a-rticnlar constructien 1 here- 1 in disclosed: is p riinerily1'for punpeses'cfi disclosure endis not a limitation-f the invention.

' Reference-should b6 l1fld to the 1acc0inpenying1 drawings t formirig nperti bifitihis specificati 0i1',1i111whicltFigI lvis eneleimt pn 1 with portions in section- I showin r 1111656168 186 of 1 the present invention. as applied to; eweservoir or pot 5601 use incconnectioniswitlr a line type 1 casting nmchineon a riailegeusimacl1i11e; Fig. 2g is a frcnt elevation: bfi stl1e switch and 1 switcln =0pe1=atingm1echenism ion the fixed support along'sideithe momvhleresemu showing the :switch. in.1-0pen-1 1p0siti0n, the cover of the switch hex heingefnitt'edior purposes otillustration; F1 similar to Fig." 2 showing theswitch --1Il closed positionend thefloat arni in engagement with-the switch actuatingnieinber and in its extreme forwardposition yFig-L 4- is a plain view of the switchend'switch{operating mechanism; Fig, 5 is a leftend"view-bf the switch and switch operating -nleclreirisiii; Figs. (i'zmd' 7- areright;end nd-front elerations of the switch boxand ccvei assembled showing" the switch lOCklHg device; Fig. 8 is a view-siniihu' toFig. lshewing e modified .form of, the inventionyFig-i. 9 is {L front "elevation of'the ineicl1inejshmvn in Fig. 8.

Referring 1 to the annexed drawings; =-the 3. is a :view

reservoifz L is mounted. .1 for backward. and .iorward nmvement {alongside 101": the fixed 0r fraine-imnemher, ori side-rail- 2- of theiino 1 tiypeinori s milar aline or Ltype. casting 111aiieh ine. jiEhe =-resemoir i 1 -,receines 1 molten .anetah from a melting cup: 31 which issup- POEtQdy-QVQU :thetreservoin lflby means of .an ..,e1'111r 4 1 pivoted;- to the upperiend 013 a stand- .i-ard 5 Which-11 isuedg'ustablyi secured .to' the @fname member 2 bye supportingbracket5. (The :switch box 6 .is '1 adjustably. secured 1 t0 &the topuface of :the. isupportiiigi bracket 5 shy means not cap. screws; 6% which. extend :thr u-gln islets 1 in: the -bOttOHL 0f the switch box. aAs ishown ehereinggthe cover OfL J the @WliLC lL bOXe-l S ieinitted -and the iswitchsbox is -promdedi-twith a high .reer well. 7, end a w iyOnhflWall 8. JAI mercury. switch 1 glass 1 wgacuiunl tube 9 is mounted; within the switch .ibox 1 61mm 2L-SBG1JL01TL1 iciiadlenlO which is .itormed in two. parts and clamped filiOuHClf the \tube: bywnieatnsiof ,sc'rews 110 a: rubber upackingi l-ringbeing 1 provided Joetween, :the "tube- 9 endrthe surrounding partscf the s. .'e1:adle. iThecradle 10-is provided on 1oppo gsi-teisides with laterally projecting recessed pivot bcsses illi whichireceive the centering =piu0t peints il2 carnied-byithe walls 7 and 8 lfi ar-re connected t0 the wires 15 a nd 16 and extend t :1 terininafl hlOck*17 where they are GQIlHQObGd-tdblllel-hlg pestslT. Wires 18 -a i'id i9 gleadfr0n1 the binding posts 17" to ithe line rind, t0" the; resistance; element --in -thei inelting cup. 3. fThewzicuuin tube 9 is partiel-ly filled with mercury; 1 the M11 cu nt mercury in the-tube being such that; wh en the tube-is t-ilted ergturnd heu t its pivo ts in a forward direction (to the right) and lies in a substantially horizontal position, the mercury entirely covers the brim of the cup 1aand provides an electrical connection be tween the wires and 16 and when the tube is .tilted rea-rwardly (or to the left) a portion of the mercury flows from the cup 1% and the level of the mercury in the rear end of the tube is below the level of the brim of the cup on the rear or left side thereof so that the connection between the wires 15 and 16 is broken. The mercury switch per se forms no part of the present invention, being an old and well known device. The front half of the cradle 10 is provided with an integral upwardly extending portion 20 which in the movement of the cradle about its pivots engages front and rear limit stops 20 which are in the form of set screws provided with lock nuts and serve to limit the forward and rearward movements of the switch supporting cradle. An arm 21 extends upwardly from the back half of the cradle 10 and has a rear cam face 2i. The cradle 10 has a rigid angle arm 22 extending rearwardly therefrom, the rear end of the arm 22 extending upwardly. Rigidly attached to the lower port-ion of the upwardly extending part of the arm 22 is an extension 23 in the form of a resilient steel strip. An adjusting screw 24- is carried upon the up per end of the arm 22 and engages a rear face of the strip 23. The adjusting screw has a lock nut to hold it in adjusted position and serves to adjust the upper end of the strip 23 forwardly or rearwardly. The extension arms 21 and 223 cooperate with cradle tilting or turning and retaining devices which will be hereinafter described. The switch turnon lever 25 is pivoted at its lower end to the side wall T of the switch box adjacent the bottom of the box by suitable means such as a shoulder screw 26. At the upper end of the lever 25 is a forwardly extending pawl arm 27 which is pivotally connected to the lever 25 by suitable means, such as a shoulder screw 27. The end of the arm 27 has an inclined face 28 which leads to a detent 29 on the underside of the arm. The arm 27 is normally supported in substantially horizontal position by means of a. lug 30 carried by the lever 25 and engaging the lower edge of the bar. A weighted pull lever 31 is pivotally connected to the lever 25 intermediate the ends thereof by suitable means such as a shoulder screw 31, and carries a lug 32 which engages the rear edge of the lever 25 to limit the downward swinging movement of the pull lever 31 ith respect to the lever 25. The pull lever 31 has a downturned rear end 33 which carries an adjusting screw 34: which has a rounded end bearing against theeam face 21 of the cradle extension 21. The screw 34 is preferahly provided with a lock nut for holding 1t 1n ad usted position and is adapted to be The lever 25 is limited in its forward an rearward movements by means of stop 1.- 35 and 35 carried by the wall 7. lattl bar36 is pivoted to the wall 7 beneath the pawl arm 27 by suitable means, such as a shoulder screw 37. The latch bar 36 has an inclined face 88 at its forward end and an inclined face 39 at its rear end. The inclined face 39 at the rear end of the latch bar leads to a detent -10 on the underside o t' the bar and is adapted to be engaged by the upper end of the extension strip of the cradle, enabling the extension 23 to lift the latch bar and move into position in front of the detent 40. A lug ll carried by the wall 7 beneath the rearwardly extending portion of the latch bar 36 serves to limit the downward movement of the rear end of the latch bar and to normally hold the bar in substantially horizontal position.

Forward movement of the lever causes the pull lever 81 to move forwardly and upwardly and the rounded end of the screw 3t moving over the face of the cam surface 21" turns the cradle 10 upwardly. As the lever moves to the right, the extension 23 comes into engagement with the detent so on the latch bar 36 which looks the cradle to in its forward position, in which position the circuit is closed. The latch bar 86 holds the switch in closed position until the extension 93 is released by depressing the forw; d end of the bar 36. i hen the cradle it) is re leased it turns roarwardly and dowinvardly by gravity tweaking the circuit. A float. rod supporting bracket 42 is clamped to the edge of the reservoir 1 adjacent the supporting rail 2. A bar 4-3 is pivoted to the bracket 42 on a horizontal pivot, the axis of which is parallel with the supporting rail A float arm 43 carrying afloat 41 t: on its outer end is secured to one end of the bar 49 An adjustable extension 45 which extends between the pawl arm 27 and the latch bar 36 is attached to the other end of the bar t?) by means of apivot member 4-6 and set screws 46'. Bymcans of the set screws to the extension may be adjusted about its pivot 46 to raise or lower its outer end with respect to the float let. The outer end portion of the extension 45 which lies between the pawl arm 27 and latch bar 36 has an inclined fa ce LT along its upper edge which adapted to contact with the inclined face 28 of the pawl arm 27 in the rearward movement of the extension eh) with respect to the switch operating members.

In the operation of the machine the reservoir 1 moves forwardly and rcamvardly alongside of and parallel with the supporting rail 2 to and from the position at which lci) lines of type are'castu Whenthe surface of the molten metal in the reservoir 1 is at the highest desired point the adjustable extension 4-5 is adjusted so that 'it depresses the latch bar andis in a position in which it can not engage the detent 29 of the pawl arm 27 during the forward movement of the reservoir 1.

fis slugs or lines of type are cast by the operation of the linotype machine, the amount of molten metal in thereservoir is reduced and the float supported by the metal is lowered. This causes the outer end of the float bar extension 4l5 to be raised to a position where it will engage the detent 29 of the pawl arm'27; When the extension 4-5 is raised to engaging "position the inclined upper faces? thereof will'engage the in cline face 28 of the bar 27 on the return or rearward movement of the reservoir 1 lifting and may be operated upon succeeding move ments of the reservoir 1. 'This, however, has no effect upon the switch which is held in closed position by the latch bar 36.

As soon as SUliiClQlit metalhas been in lted in the melting cup 3 to raise the lever in the reservoir 1 nearly to thenormal level for which the float mechanism has been set. the rise of the floatlowers the outer end of the Heat ha r extension into engagement with the outer end of the latch bar 36. When in this position the float bar extension 45 depressesthe forward end of the latch bar 36 and lifts the detent to out of engagement with the extension strip of the cradle 10 releasing the cadle and iei'mitt-ing it to move by gravity to switch opening position.

It is thus evident that forward movement of the-reservoir is essential to the turning on of the current but that the current may be turned otf either durin the return of the reservoir to its normal or rearmost position or-while standing in the normal position, since the latch bar 36- is moved to releasing position hy the power derived from the lifting of the float as the metal in the reservoirrises.

As shown in Figs. (3 and 7 a switch lock 48 is provided which consists of a bent rod 4'8, the freeends l9 and 50 of which are at the front and 'are bent respectivelydownwardly and upwardly to provide a pointed end. The lockmember 48 is mounted for slidingmovement ma keeper 51 on the switch box cover. 'The downwardly inclined end 49 engages the pawl arm 2'? and the up wardly inclined end 50 engages the latch bar 36. When the lock member 48 is pusher forwardly between the pawl arm 27 and latch bi 36, depressing the latch bar 36 and raising the pawl arm 27; Thelatchbar S6 is depressed sufliciently to release the switch and permit it to move to op n position (if it should be in closed position), andthe pawl arm 27 israised high enough so that no matter how low the metal level may be, the float arm extension a5 will not rise high enmigh to engage the detent 29 on the forward movement of the reservoir.

Important features of the present invention are the provision of positive power operated actuating means for the switch, the power operated switch actuating means be ing preferably a moving part of the machine, and the provision of means responsive to the level of. the melted material in the reservoir, such as a float, for controlling the ac tuation ofthe switch by the power operated means. In the form of the invention above described the movable part of the machine which 'actuatcs the switch is the movable res-- ervoir, however, the invention is not limited to machines in which the reservoir is movable nor is it limited to the actuation of the switch'by themovable reservoir. In 8 and 9 l have shown a modified form of the invention in which the switch is actuated from a moving-part independent of the reservoir.

S and 9 show a part of a so caller i l-trod lead tltl slug casting machine, in which the metal :ot or reservoir is rin'h at ached to the op face of the machine frameor hed to which is als attached the melting cup supportlug l .ekctand in which the mercury switch which is in all respects similar to the switch aho'e descrihed 1s mo nted upon the inciting cu simporting bracket.

q .7 +1., q .11 im H be, i. i IDCQ en su at i mec ninmm is t same in this moditication as m the modification above descrihcd, the switch he is shown and slugs. The metal is maintained in a molten c ndition in the reservoir 63 by a gas.

burner underneath or by other suitable means. A motor driven power shaft which is in constant revolution when the,

machine is being operated is journaled in brackets or other suitable supportin I C means beneath the bed 61. The metal feeder AiL supporting bracket 66 which car 'ies the melting cup supporting post 6'? is bolted to the bed 61 at one sid of the reservoir 63 and the switch box 68 enclosing the switch mechanism is mounted upon the bracket 66. U ion the upper edge of the side vall of the reservoir adjacent the switch box 68 is at tached a bracket 69 upon which is pivotally nonntcd a l. bar to one end of which "ached a float rod 71 carrying the Heat 7:2 nd to the other end of which is adjnstbly attached the float adjusting bar 73. The float adjusting bar 73 is adjustably sec net. to the arm by means of a shoulder screw Ti and set screws 75 corresponding" to the shoulder screw and set screws to above cescribed. The float adjusting bar T3 or e: b on a pawl arm 'itcl and a latcn 6 of the e i tui bar 77 which are the same as 2i and latch bar 36 in the n lescribed, except that the pawl ne detent 0 an extension of the in n inturned upper end i l over-l; I .rm 76 and an int irnel 0 ins beneath the bed (31 cam taco at its end. attached to the shaft 6% the cam face 83 or" the revolution of "he shaft 6% 7? is constantly oscillated tion of the macaine. A nected to the brz clzet 6 nd to exerts a pull upon the lever in a direction to move the upper end eot to the left and to hold the lever engaginein with a. stop 86 below the p C'. li l'ien the arm 8i stri tes the cam 83 of the lover it moves the lever in i ion to the to a i a 'cd b lever 79 in its n'iove n t \i not turning the switch to on pos tini where it 18 latched as in the above descr bed. When suiiibeen snp 'ilied to the reservoir, the adiustire; ,n '73 is moved downwardly into engagement with the latch bar "'7, releasing the switch which IDOYCS by gravity to 0?? position.

Having described my claim 1. The combination with a casting machine ha ing a reservoir for material in tion cicnt metal has iiodi lion invention, I

melted form, and means controlled by an electric circuit for supplying melted material to said reservoir, of a switch in said circnit, an actuating member which has a predetermined movement during the oper tion of the machine, and means responsive to the lev l of the melted material in said reservoir for connecting said actuating member van said switch to actuate the same.

2. The combination with a casting machine having a reservoir tor material in melted form and means controlled by an elect l0 c1 unit for supplying melted matee combination with a casting ma- "ig a reservoir "for material in d torn: and means contro led by an circuit for supplying melted mate-- rial c said reservoir, of a switch in said circuit, means for operating said switch comprising; a member which has a predeteri' ent during the operation of 1, and float controlled means for oiling the operation or said switch by its operating means.

t. The combination with a casting machine having a reservoir for material in melted term and means controlled by an electric circuit for supplying melted mate rial to said reservoir, of a switch in said circuit adaited to be actuated by a moving part ol said machine,and means responsive to the level of the liquid in said reservoir for controlling the actuation of said switch by said in ving part.

5.ll1e combination with a casting machine having a reservoir for material in melted form and means controlled by an electric circuit for supplying melted material to said reservoir, oi? a switch in said circuit,v means for moving said switch to closed position, means for retaining said switch l. closed positio: and means responsive to the level of the liquid in said reservoir for connecting; said switch with said moving means and tor releasing; said switch "from said rctaining means.

6. The combination with a casting machine having a rese-voir for material in melted form and means con rolled by an electric circuit :tor supplying melted material to said reservoir, of a switch in said circuit, a pivotal support for said switch counterbalanced to normally hold said switch in open position, means for movingsaid switch to closed position, means for retaining said switch in closed position, and means responsive to the level of the liquid in said reserwas voir to connect said moving means to said switch and for releasing said retaining means.

7. The combnation with a fixedsupport, of a reservoir adapted to contain material in melted form and to be moved back and forth with respect. to said support'to discharge the material, means controlled by an electric circuit for supplying melted material to said reservoir, a switch in said circuit, an operating member therefor mounted on said support, and a float controlled arm movable with said reservoir adapted to be shifted into and out of positions in which it is engageable with the switch operating member whereby said switch may be actuated upon the movement of the reservoir.

8. The combination with a fixed support,

- of a reservoir adapted to contain material in melted form and to be moved back and forth with respect tosaid support to discharge the material, means controlled by an electric circuit for supplying material to said reservoir, a switch in said circuit, and switch operating means comprising a member movable with said reservoir and a member on said fixed support adapted to be engaged and shifted by the first member on movement of said reservoir.

9. The combination with a reservoir adapted to contain material in meltedform, of means controlled by an electric circuit for supplying melted material to'said reservoir, a switch in said circuit; actuating members associated with the switch, a part carried by a moving element of the machine and engageable with said actuating members, and means controlled by the level of the melted material in the reservoir for controlling the engagement of said part with said actuating members.

10. The combination with a fixed support, a reservoir adapted to contain material in melted form and to be moved back and forth with respect to said support, means for supplying melted material to said reservoir, an electric circuit for controlling said melted material supplying means, a switch in said circuit, an arm pivoted on said reservoir, a float connected to one end of said arm, and a member mounted upon said support for operating said switch, said member being in position to be engaged by said arm in one position thereof and to be actuated upon movement of said reser voir.

11. The combination with a fixed support, a reservoir adapted to contain material in melted form and to be moved back and forth with respect to said support, means for supplying melted material to said reservoir, an electric circuit for controlling the melted material supplying means, a switch in said circuit, a switch operating member mounted upon said support and movable in the direcswitch shifting means,

. was

tion of movement of said reservoir, an arm movable with said reservoirfor actuating said member, means controlled by the level of melted material in said reservoir to vary he path of movement of said arm, whereby said member will be actuated only when the melted material in said reservoir is at a predetermined level.

12. The combination with a reservoir adapted to contain material in melted form, of means controlled by an electric circuit for supplying melted material to said reservoir, a switch in said circuitmovable from open to closed position, latch member for holding said switch in one of said positions, an actuating device for moving said switch into engagement with said latch member and a float controlled arm carried by the reservoir engageable with said actuating device when moved in one direction and with said latch member when moved in the opposite direc tion whereby said switch is opened and closed.

'l in combination with a reservoir adapted to contain material in molten form, of a melting cup mounted above the reservoir and adapted to contain material in solid form, an electric resistance element associated with said cup, a switch controlling tie functioning of said resistance element, switch operating means, and means for connecting said switch operating means with switch to operate the switch, said connecting means being controlled by the level of melted material in said reservoir.

. Ll. The combination with a reservoir adapted to contain material in molten form, of a melting cup mounted above the reser voir and adapted to contain material in solid form, an electricresistance element associated with said cup, a'switch controlling the functioning of said resistance element, switch operating means provided with spaced switch shifting and switch releasing members, and a float controlled arm on said reservoir extending between the spaced members of said operating means and adapted to actuate one of said members when the level of the material in the reservoir reaches a predetermined high level and the other of said members when the level in said reser voir drops to a predetermined level.

15. The combination with adapted to contain materal in molten form, of a melting cup mounted above the reservoir and adapted to contain material in solid form, an electric resistance element associated with the cup, a switch controlling the functioning of said resistance element, a a switch releasing means, float controlled means carried by said reservoir for connecting said shifting means v with the switch to actuate the switch and "for operating said releasing means.

.16. The combination with a. reservoir a reservoir actuate the switch opening and closing means, and means for locking said opening and closing means, against actuation by said 1 molten material level responsive means.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

GEORGE E. LEE. 

